The Lilac Time

One of the benefits of this cool and wet spring is that the blooms of many flowering plants are lingering longer than they might in a hot and dry season. Lucky us, for the lilac collection at Lilacia Parkdown the tracks in Lombard is currently in glorious full bloom.

If you have never seen acres of lilacs in bloom, you should. It's a singular experience, and this historic park has never looked better. (I should know, I used to work there!). It is heartening to see how this park and plant collection have improved in this era of declining infrastructure and thin government budgets. The Lombard Park District should take a bow.

In April, Lombard recently hosted the 2011 ILS Convention, but the lilac collection is doing it's thing right now. So why not hop on the Metra and de-train in Lombard, mere steps away from hundreds of varieties of lilacs. It will be a green jaunt you won't forget. Bring your camera!

Sometimes if they're in an overly shady area their blooming can be lessened. Or if they're being over-pruned the flower buds can be cut off.

Patricia O'Shea Facebook Verified

Posted: May 18th, 2011 10:07 PM

I wish I knew why mine don't bloom much. When I was growing up in Michigan they were everywhere in our backyard and I don't *think* my Mom did anything special. Of course I was a kid and paid no attention to that sort of thing. My bushes today give me only a few blooms.

Dave Coulter

Posted: May 18th, 2011 9:34 PM

Indeed...it's really looking good - right now!

Christina Pippin from OakPark.com/Shopping/Blogs

Posted: May 18th, 2011 5:56 PM

Lilacia Park is beautiful. In the summertime I'm struck by the number of butterflies brimming over from every shrub and flower.

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